Eco-Business

09/10/2025

Courts are becoming a new battleground for climate action. A new report by Columbia Law School’s Sabin Center for Climate Change Law and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)reveals that climate lawsuits have surged to more than 3,000 cases across 55 countries, triple the number just a few years ago.

Of these, nearly two-thirds (1,986) were filed in the United States. Other hotspots were Brazil, the United Kingdom and Germany, each with more than 50 cases. Cases from the Global South still represent less than 10 per cent of the total, but are steadily growing.

Governments and corporations are being taken to court over emissions, greenwashing and failure to act on climate risks. But as more cases against corporations emerge, so do “anti-climate” lawsuits seeking to silence activists and weaken environmental protections.

Read more on the report findings:

A new report from UNEP and Columbia Law School finds more than 3,000 cases have been filed worldwide as courts increasingly push for climate accountability – but ‘anti-climate’ lawsuits are on the rise too.

08/10/2025

The Philippines is betting big on offshore wind, but the transition comes with a price.

At the Net Zero Carbon Alliance conference held last month, officials revealed that the country has only two operational ports to support its offshore wind goals. To reach targets of 3.3 GW by 2030 and up to 50 GW by 2050, significant investment in port infrastructure will be needed.

“Transition is expensive. It’s not free,” said energy secretary Sharon Garin, noting that ports in Batangas, Mindoro, and Panay are being studied for upgrades. Read the full story:

The Department of Energy is preparing for its inaugural offshore wind auction, accompanied by a roadmap for the country's capacity expansion. The Philippines, however, won't yet be ready to supply to the Asean Power Grid, says Sharon Garin.

08/10/2025

As the world accelerates its efforts to address the urgent impacts of climate change, the concept of a Just Transition has become increasingly vital to ensure a shift to not just a low-carbon economy, but a resilient and equitable one.

Join Eco-Business and United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative (UNEP FI) in an exclusive masterclass on 22 October at SGX Centre.

‍This masterclass is suitable for:
⚡️ Mid to senior managers with sustainability, climate and/or social responsibilities in financial institutions, real estate and construction, and energy and oil and gas, extraction, agribusiness
⚡️ For financial institutions, representatives may be sitting across investment and institutional banking, risk, operations, legal and audit, product development, private banking‍

What participants will learn:
💡 Understand the principles of a Just Transition
💡 Learn about climate, social and development goals in the Asian context
💡 Gain practical tools and insights in designing inclusive transition pathways

Exclusive discounts are available for select individuals. View eligibility and register your attendance:

As the world accelerates its efforts to address the urgent impacts of climate change, the concept of a Just Transition has become increasingly vital to ensure a shift to not just a low-carbon economy, but a resilient and equitable one. This is especially critical in Asia, home to both...

07/10/2025

07/10/2025

Remember the 2024 VietJet ad banned for greenwashing? Or the 2023 advertising campaign for Prism+ airconditioners featuring Singaporean influencer Xiaxue?

In the future, companies may be able to avoid making similar mistakes thanks to new guidelines published by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCS).

The guidelines outline five principles for businesses to follow when making claims about the qualities, uses or benefits of their products. These include ensuring claims are accurate, clear, meaningful, evidence-based and sufficiently substantiated.

Greenwashing has become a global concern as more businesses seek to market themselves as sustainable, although regulators in Asia have been relatively slow to tackle questionable green claims. Read more:

Almost two years in the making, the guidance aims to help companies avoid making exaggerated green claims. It emerges 10 months after an advertisement claiming "eco-friendly" air travel was banned.

06/10/2025

Industry watchers are eagerly awaiting the upcoming ASEAN energy ministers' meeting to be held in mid-October. Their goal is to sign a new MoU on the ASEAN Power Grid — harmonising standards, creating transparent tariffs, and establishing a dispute resolution system.

Right now, Southeast Asia has more than 20 different grid codes, and every country has its own standards, rules, and tariffs. This has made cross-border electricity trade nigh-impossible.

Do you think ASEAN can overcome political and regulatory differences and achieve progress towards a unified grid?

Read more:

Southeast Asian energy ministers are scheduled to sign an enhanced MoU for the Asean Power Grid at their mid-October meeting, which will focus on boosting interoperability between member states’...

06/10/2025

🚨 Woolworths, Clorox, Vanguard, EnergyAustralia — some of Australia’s biggest brands have been caught greenwashing. But why is Australia cracking down harder than most countries in Asia Pacific on false green claims?

In our latest installment of the EB Podcast, former United Nations policy analyst and China-based Business for Social Responsibility strategist John Pabon explains why greenwashing remains front-page news in Australia.

Listen to the discussion to find out:

👉 How did John Pabon get interested in greenwashing?
👉 Greenwashing cases in Australia this year
👉 Has Australia been influenced by Trump and a pivoting Europe?
👉Why are companies still falling into the greenwashing trap?
👉 Greenhushing and corporate vulnerability

https://www.eco-business.com/podcasts/how-australia-took-the-lead-in-policing-greenwashing/

02/10/2025

Dr. Jane Goodall has passed away at the age of 91, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy. Tributes for Goodall have poured in from conservation leaders, policymakers and global advocates — read them now: https://www.eco-business.com/news/earths-greatest-champion-conservation-world-mourns-dr-jane-goodall/

Jane Goodall was praised not only for her groundbreaking discoveries about chimpanzees in Tanzania but also for her unwavering compassion, courage, and advocacy. Many are celebrating her as a force for hope that has inspired generations.

Dr. Goodall's work lives on through The Jane Goodall Institute and Roots and Shoots, a youth action organisation with over 60 chapters globally.

Global conservation leaders honour Goodall’s legacy as a scientist, humanitarian and advocate who redefined species conservation and empowered millions through her message of hope.

01/10/2025

Southeast Asia’s shift to clean energy is showing more strain than speed. A new survey of over 100 professionals in energy, finance and academia by Sustainable Energy Association of Singapore (SEAS) points to a region edging forward on renewables while hampered by fragile grids, inconsistent regulations and weak investment signals.

For years, Singapore stood far ahead of its neighbors as the region’s energy transition leader. Now, survey findings suggest its dominance has faded. In 2024, 95 percent of respondents ranked the city-state first. This year, only about half did. Malaysia and Vietnam are quickly gaining ground, reflecting both their rising ambition and Singapore’s diminished edge.

Survey respondents still expect Singapore to lead on carbon pricing and solar integration, but a recent decision to delay mandatory disclosure rules has further clouded its standing. Once seen as an early mover, the city-state now risks being overtaken on climate transparency by Malaysia.

What emerges from the findings is a region in flux. The balance of clean energy leadership is tilting, and the contest among Southeast Asia’s economies could reshape how fast and how well the transition unfolds. For a part of the world highly exposed to climate risks, the stakes could not be higher.

Read the story:

Survey finds Singapore’s status as regional energy transition leader is fading fast as ASEAN clean energy push shifts focus from ambition to survival amid finance gaps and rising geopolitical risks.

01/10/2025

Plenary discussions at Unlocking capital for sustainability Thailand yesterday brought together leaders from regional government, finance, business and academia. Participants debated challenges such as fragmented supplier networks, but also pointed to opportunities in scaling partnerships and unlocking new markets for sustainable growth.

Thailand will need between US$22 to US$28 billion in climate investments every year from 2030 to 2050 to stay aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The country currently ranks 43rd on the global SDG index, with limited progress in areas such as climate, biodiversity and energy.

Kanda Chookaew, Deputy Secretary General for the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP), who was guest-of-honour at the conference, said the agency is committed to working with the private sector on key areas such as green energy, biodiversity, sustainable tourism and climate adaptation.

ONEP has recently signed agreements with major companies such as EGAT, PTT Exploration and Production, B.Grimm Power, Toyota and Nestlé Thailand to advance biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.

The Thailand Board of Investment (BOI) is also embedding sustainability in its five-year strategy, with a focus on renewable energy, green mobility and smart agriculture. Officials emphasised that balancing profitability with sustainability will be essential to accelerating private sector participation.

While our Thailand edition of Unlocking capital for sustainability is now concluded, we welcome registrations for our upcoming Singapore edition today. Register now at https://www.unlockingcapitalforsustainability.com/singapore/2025

01/10/2025

Women entrepreneurs in Indonesia power more than 60 percent of the nation’s GDP and lead tens of millions of micro, small and medium enterprises. Yet they remain underserved by the financial system, with only about one in five able to secure bank loans.

Systemic barriers such as collateral requirements, gender bias and limited support networks prevent many of these businesses from scaling, even if they have proven track records of profitability. The result is a financing gap that continues to constrain both local economies and national growth.

New approaches are beginning to emerge. The Indonesian government and state-owned lenders have partnered with global players to experiment with “orange bonds,” a new asset class aligned with the UN goal of advancing gender equality. The idea is to channel bond proceeds directly into working capital for women-led MSMEs. Indonesia issued its first tranche of IDR 1 trillion (US$615 million) in bonds earlier this year.

These instruments represent an attempt to rethink how capital markets can serve women entrepreneurs. Learn more:

Despite a slowdown in gender-inclusive commitments from traditional western markets, the Impact Investment Exchange has pushed ahead to scale women-focused 'orange capital', while forging alliances to expand the 'orange economy' in Asia.

30/09/2025

A new AI-powered tool has provided the most comprehensive picture yet of rooftop solar in the Philippines, revealing an estimated 1,846 megawatts of installed capacity nationwide.

Developed by the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities (ICSC), the platform called SPECTRUM uses high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning to detect and estimate solar photovoltaic systems across the archipelago. Crucially, it captures both registered and unregistered installations that government programs have often missed.

The initial scan shows Luzon with 1,309 MW of rooftop solar, followed by 472 MW in the Visayas and 61 MW in Mindanao. While utility-scale systems account for the largest share, commercial and residential rooftops are also making significant contributions to the energy mix.

ICSC says the data will help shape national energy planning, zoning, investment, and compliance with renewable targets. For households and businesses, the findings reinforce the value of net metering, which allows participants to export excess power to the grid in exchange for billing credits.

Read more about the tool and how it can help policymakers, utilities, and communities advance clean energy planning:

Metro Manila and other key Philippine cities fall short of rooftop solar potential, with coverage rates below 1 per cent, AI tool shows.